Internal combustion engine piston



4 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed April 13, 1959 No r'man E. G Lrcu-J M Attorn y yi 14, 1940- N. E. GVIIRARD 2,201,085

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE PISTON Filed April 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

INVENTOR Norman E.GLTCLT'J Attorney May 14, 1940.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE PIS TONv Filed April 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Norman GLr-ar-J Atta r-ney N. E. GIRARD v 3 2,201,085

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE PISTON N orman Eugene Girard, Windsor, Ontario,

Canada Application April s, 1939, Serial No. 267,692

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a piston. Its primary object being to provide a piston having self-adjusting means, whereby the diameter of the same is at all times equal to the diameter of the cylinder in which it is placed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a piston having a plurality of expanding segments arranged on the skirt thereof, said segments being. actuated outwardly by expansion means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a core or pilot member having a pluralityv of segments associated therewith to form a skirt, said segments being actuated outwardly by expanding rings between said pilot and the segments, and provided with outside ring grooves to receive compression rings of the usual type.

Another object of the invention is to construct a piston having the foregoing features whereby, due to the expansion of the skirt throughout its length, a true vertical motion is obtained eliminating any possibility of piston slap, and preventing the rounding of the edges of the rings. The rings therefore, have a greater period of efliciency, avoiding the pumping of oil, and having a greater increase in compression and power.

With these and other objects in view that may appear while the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and in Which- Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of my invention, showing the pilot and skirt in light and heavy section respectively.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of the same.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the skirt expanding means.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of the expanding means.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section view showing the expanding means in place.

Figs. 8 and 9 are further views of the expanding members.

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of construction of the expanding means.

Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view on the line ll-|l of Fig. 10.

Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, it will be seen the invention consists of a core or pilot 2!] having a fiat or convex crown 2|, a neck 22, side members 23, between which a wrist pin is diametrically mounted in theapertures 24. Said side members are partially circular, with the adjacent edges in spaced apart relation to each other.

The skirt is formed in a plurality of segments 26, the adjoining edges 26a of which are angu larly disposed with respect to the vertical centerline, the angle being betwen and 60 as may be found advantageous. The upper partis thicker than the body, and is formed with a shoulder 21 which engages the neck 22 of the pilot. Ring slots 28 are cut in the outer face of the segments to accommodate standard piston rings. An annular flange 29 is formed on the inside of the segments adjacent the lower end, and engages an annular groove 30 in the pilot provided for that purpose. An annular groove 3| is formed in the neck of the pilot, and accommodates expanding means for the skirt as also does similar expanding means carried in the groove 30.

The expansion means include expandable steel rings 32, and a plurality of flat springs 33 and 34. Said springs consist of elongated flat bodies.

having the ends thereof cut to form two outer lugs 35, and one central lug 36 on each end. The outer lugs 35 are bent at right angles to the body, while the central lug 36 is bent slightly toward the opposite direction. The springs 34 have additional lugs 31 formed from the body equi-distantly from the center thereof. Said lugs are bent in the opposite direction to the end lugs 35. I

In the plan view of Fig 5 it will be seen the springs 34 are arranged with the ends engaging the ring 32, while the central lugs 31 engage the edges 25 of the spaces between the sides 23 of the pilot.

In the detail View Fig. 6, it will be seen the different diameters. Said rings are positioned in interior grooves 40 in the skirt, in a manner to exert an outward tension on the skirt segments.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the piston will expand to the walls of the cylinder, thereby taking up the wear 'as the cylinder increases in size. It will be unnecessary to have the cylinder ground or bored to exact size, as the pistons will automatically adjust themselves to the size of the cylinder.

It is believed that the construction and advantages of the structure shown, may be apparent from the foregoing paragraphs taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, with out further detailed description.

While the preferred embodiment, of the invention has been disclosed, it is understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of co operating parts may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An expander ring for pistons comprising a split ring, a series of springs disposed around the inner periphery of said ring, each spring consisting of a flat steel band having lugs bent from its ends adapted to engage over the upper and lower edges of said ring, and lugs bent from the band intermediate its length for engagement in an opening in the piston.

2. An expander ring for pistons comprising a split ring, a series of springs disposed around the inner periphery of said ring, each spring consisting of a fiat steel band having lugs bent from its ends to provide outer lugs adapted to engage over the upper and lower edges of said ring and a central lug bent to contact the inner face of said ring, and lugs bent from the band intermediate its length for engagement in an opening in the piston.

NORMAN EUGENE GIRARD. 

